“It is one thing to offer sanitary pads. But has the government ensured toilets in government schools with running water? The problem is that those in power do not address structural issues and cultural issues on a subject like menstruation,” she added.

Jyoti Hitnal, who works with a non-governmental organisation, told BBC Hindi that she found it “laughable” that political parties should today suddenly wake up to the subject of sanitary napkins, which they consider “taboo” – without even creating an awareness about health and women’s hygiene.

“What are you promising without them knowing what women’s hygiene is?” she asked.

Both parties are also trying to outdo each other on this front.

The Congress party began by promising free sanitary towels to women who hold Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards and female students.

The BJP then followed by saying all women would get free sanitary pads. This led the Congress to also revise its manifesto.

Despite the widespread scepticism, M Neela of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) told BBC Hindi that she was glad that political parties have at least belatedly recognised that sanitary pads are an issue and are not “taboo” products that should be taxed.

The Karnataka polls are being bitterly contested by both parties, who are treating it as a bellwether ahead of scheduled general elections in 2019.

Analysts say the wooing of women has worked well for other state politicians like Nitish Kumar in the eastern state of Bihar, whose schemes like free uniforms, bicycles and sanitary napkins for female students have proved immensely popular.